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Section4
The General Clauses Act, 1897

Application of foregoing definitions to previous enactments

In force From 11 Mar 1897 Act 10 of 1897 As on 14 Oct 2026

Act 10 of 1897 Ministry Law and Justice Enacted 11 Mar 1897 In force 11 Mar 1897

Section 4 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 deals with application of foregoing definitions to previous enactments. The definitions in section 3 of the following words and expressions, that is to say, "affidavit", "barrister", "District Judge', "father", , , "immovable property", "imprisonment", "Magistrate", "month", "movable property", "oath", "person", "section", "son", "swear", "will", and "year" apply also, The Act came into force on 11 Mar 1897.

(1) The definitions in section 3 of the following words and expressions, that is to say, "affidavit", "barrister", 1*** "District Judge', "father", 2***, 3***, 4*** "immovable property", "imprisonment", 5*** "Magistrate", "month", "movable property", "oath", "person", "section", "son", "swear", "will", and "year" apply also, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, to all 6[Central Acts] made after the third day of January, 1868, and to all Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day of January, 1887.

(2) The definitions in the said section of the following words and expressions, that is to say, "abet", "Chapter", "commencement", "financial year", "local authority", "master", "offence", 'part", "public nuisance", "registered, schedule', "ship", "sign', "sub-section" and "writing" apply also, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, to all 6[Central Acts] and Regulations made on or after the fourteenth day of January, 1887.

Section 4, The General Clauses Act, 1897 (Act 10 of 1897).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

This section refers to

  1. s. 3 Definitions

Questions about Section 4

What does Section 4 of the General Clauses Act deal with?

Section 4 of the General Clauses Act is headed "Application of foregoing definitions to previous enactments". The definitions in section 3 of the following words and expressions, that is to say, "affidavit", "barrister", "District Judge', "father", , , "immovable property", "imprisonment", "Magistrate", "month", "movable property", "oath", "person", "section", "son", "swear", "will", and "year" apply also,

How do I find court cases under Section 4 of the General Clauses Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: General Clauses Act 4, section 4 General Clauses Act, section 4 of the General Clauses Act. People searching for it also type general clauses act 1897 section 4. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

What should I read with Section 4 of the General Clauses Act, and has it changed?

Its own text turns on section 3 (Definitions), so none of them can safely be read on its own.

When did Section 4 of the General Clauses Act come into force?

Section 4 of the General Clauses Act, cited as General Clauses Act 4, came into force on 11 Mar 1897, having been enacted on 11 Mar 1897. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.